2023 EMS Strategic Plan

2023 EMS Strategic Plan Tate, Jamarius Columbia County Fire Rescue Training Division 1/1/2023

1 EMS Strategic Plan Table of Contents  Chapter 1: Overview  Chapter 2: Establishing the Standard  Chapter 3: Training & Education  Chapter 4: Collecting the Data  Chapter 5: Verifying Progress  Chapter 6: Resources

2 EMS Strategic Plan Chapter 1: Overview

3 EMS Strategic Plan Overview The EMS Strategic Plan, created and This document guides the process on how to developed by Columbia County Rescue’s achieve the two main goals and the requirements Training Division, is a simple document and necessary for success. The process can be tool detailing how Columbia County Fire summarized as the following: Rescue plans to continue to advocate for the citizens of Columbia County through quality  Establishing the standard of care. patient care and education to the service members and community. This plan is based  Training and educating on the level of care off of the National EMS Scope of Practice for providers and development of Model, current GA Scope of Practice for community courses. EMS Personnel, Columbia County Fire Rescue’s Medical Protocols, collected data  Collect statistical data related standards, from past years, and guidelines set forth by training, and education. the Georgia Department of Public Health. The current operational status of local  Verify standard of care is met. hospitals and neighboring agencies were also considered. Documents related to all mentioned models and agencies have been reviewed by Columbia County Fire Rescue’s Medical Director, Dr. Mark Lopez, and E.M.S. Director, Battalion Chief Ray Blessing. The process needed to execute the plan has been simplified into two diagrams. These diagrams will be further explained in detail in each chapter. This plan will be used by Columbia County Fire rescue as a tool to assure 2 main goals; consistent EMS patient care for Columbia County and effectively progress the level of care to the current needs of the area.

4 EMS Strategic Plan The Process Establish Verify Train/Educate Collect

5 EMS Strategic Plan Establish the Standard EMS •Assess the National and Georgia Scope Strategic of Practice •Assess the area’s need Plan •Create a plan •Communicate the plan Training and Education •Monthly EMS Training •EMT/AEMT Course •NAEMT Courses •AHA Courses •Training/Education Resources •Paramedic Refresher Collect Data •Review of 2021-2022 data •Review of current year data •Regional data •Definitive care data Verify • Competencies • QA/QC • Feedback

6 EMS Strategic Plan Chapter 2: Establishing the Standard

7 EMS Strategic Plan Establish In order to provide care to the EMT level consistently to the citizens of Columbia County, all The EMS Progressive Plan Model starts with units that initially respond to medical emergencies establishing the current level of care provided by the should be equipped accordingly. Georgia department. To simplify this understanding, the level of care Department of Health administers a license to is directly related to the Georgia Scope of Practice provider Columbia County Fire Rescue to perform within levels. The Georgia Scope of Practice provider levels are the Georgia Scope of Practice. Columbia County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Fire Rescue then certifies their units based off of Technician- Intermediate (EMT-I), Advanced Emergency the requirement set forth by the Georgia Medical Technician (AEMT), Cardiac Technician (CT), and Department of Health. Paramedic (PMDC). The levels are based on the capability to perform within the Georgia Scope of Practice. Ex: EMT’s Columbia County Fire Rescue currently are permitted to only provide rescue breaths to an has a total of 40 units that are able to respond to unconscious and apneic patient with a bag-valve mask incidents. This total number is comprised of the device. While a Paramedic is able to insert a more following units: advanced airway device, such as intubation, in addition to BVM rescue breaths. Currently Columbia County Fire  (15) Engines Rescue’s level of care is EMT on 90% of units that initially  (3) Rescues respond to medical emergencies. Refer to the appendix to  (2) Aerials see the full EMT Scope of Practice.  (4) Wildlands  (2) Battalion Chiefs  (6) District Captains  (1) Tanker  (8) Admin The Georgia Department of Health defines “certified medical units” as vehicles that have been inspected and categorized by the State of Georgia to have a certain amount of equipment on their vehicle at all times to operate within the Georgia Scope of Practice under the department’s license. Columbia County Fire Rescue currently has all Engines, Rescues, and Aerials certified as medical units. These units are directly responsible for responding to medical emergencies initially. The other 20 units are responsible for responding to emergency scenes but aren’t directly responsible for providing medical care. Majority of the units will respond to emergency scenes with the 20 certified units. The minimum equipment required on a certified medical unit can be found via this link: https://dph.georgia.gov/EMS/ems- forms-and-related-documents

8 EMS Strategic Plan The established level of care provided to After assessing the National and Georgia the citizens is based on three factors; the National Scope of Practice, an assessment of the area Scope of Practice Model, Georgia Scope of needs to be completed. The area is defined by Practice, and the area’s specific need. what EMS Region the department resides in, all agencies that function inside of Columbia County, The National Scope of Practice Model neighboring agencies, and hospitals. identifies the standard of care provided by EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic levels across the nation. All Columbia County Fire Rescue resides in providers are trained and educated to the EMS Region 6. There are a total of 10 EMS national level in basic, entry level education Regions. Region 6 is made up of the following programs. The Georgia Scope of Practice is counties; Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, specifically for providers in the State of Georgia. Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Those that practice can only practice to the full Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, and Wilkes. Region national level at the discretion of the state that 6 has two main points of contact; Region 6 EMS practice in. For example, EMTs at the national Director, Gary Pinard, and Region 6 Training level are able to use a Continuous Positive Airway Coordinator, Heather Reddick. Pressure (CPAP) device but not in the State of Georgia. Region 6, of the Georgia Department of Public Heath’s Regional EMS Systems, is made up Our established a standard of care we, of the 13 counties listed above. Region 6 has 3 Columbia County Fire Rescue, have to refer to major hospitals that function in its area. National and Georgia Scope of Practice models. We can only operate in the Georgia Protocol but Hospital: the information provided in the national level should be known and considered. Columbia  Augusta University Medical Center County Fire Rescue has adopted the new 2020 o Level I Trauma center National Scope of Practice protocols. They have  Adult Level I been reviewed by Columbia County Fire Rescue’s  Pediatric Level II Medical Director, Dr. Mark Lopez, and E.M.S. o 478-bed Director, Battalion Chief Ray Blessing. Anything o Level IV NICU listed in the national scope that does not correspond accordingly with the Georgia Scope  Piedmont Augusta Hospital of Practice have been omitted. o

9 EMS Strategic Plan There are multiple agencies that function inside of Columbia County; Gold Cross EMS, Grovetown Department of Public Safety, and Harlem Fire Department. Below is a list of services provided by these departments:  Gold Cross EMS o (7) ALS Ambulances o (1) ALS EMS Supervisor  Grovetown Dept. of Public Safety o (2) 24/7 Staffed Stations o (6) Personnel per shift o (2) Engines o (2) Squad (Rescue unit) o (1) Aerial o (1) Wildland  Harlem Fire Department o (2) Stations o (1) M-F Duty Firefighter o (1) 24/48 Duty Firefighter o Large Volunteer Base o (2) Engines o (1) Rescue o (1) Wildland o (1) Aerial

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